6 Ways to Fix Steam Not Recognizing Installed Games Issue

By Hardeep Kaur

Updated on July 25, 2022

Are you the one struggling with the Steam not recognizing installed game issues? Don’t know why does Steam not detecting installed games?

Or what to do when steam doesn’t recognize installed games.

RELAX!!! In this article, I’ll help you to solve all your queries and know how to get steam to recognize installed games?

Steam helps the users to manage all their games from one place. This is very helpful and makes the work a lot easier for gamers.

But, nowadays many gamers are found encountering various Steam-related issues. So here in this article, I am going to discuss one such problem – steam not recognizing installed games the players are facing and found reporting on the forums threads.

Steam not detecting installed games on your system is the issue that interrupts the user’s time to time so here check out the complete information on why Steam is not installing and how to resolve steam doesn’t detect installed games issue.

Let’s get started…!

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Why does Steam not Recognize Installed Games?

Here check out the possible reason why steam stopped recognizing installed games.

The problem appears when you clean install the Windows and keep the backup of the Steam app folder that comprises games files and other data.
Something wrong with the game installation

You can move it back to the Steam installation folder only to let Steam to re-download the game data back

So, if having the same issue, then here follow the tricks to force Steam to recognize the installed games.

How to Get Steam to Recognize Installed Games?

Table of Contents

#1: Reinstall the Games without Downloading

This is the easiest solution that works for you when Steam fails in recognizing the installed games, it shows an option to install the games again.

Well, if you are having game data in the Steam apps folder, then you would force Steam to detect the games by starting the game installation problem.

Follow the steps to do so:

First, start Steam and go to Games.
Now choose & click on the install for the games that Steam failed to identify.
And after installing the steam world start determining the existing game files.

Hope after doing this the Steam not detecting installed games issue is solved. But if still, the issues persist then follow the next solution.

#2. Identify Games from New Drive

Check if the main drive (default installation location of Steam) has sufficient space for installing the entire game.

If it is not having enough space to install games then move game data to the new hard drive and after that add the Game Library Folder manually in the Steam app.

Follow the given instructions to do so:

If you desire your games should be in the D:/games directory then create a subdirectory and name it “Steamappscommon”. The folder looks like D:>Games > steamapps>common
And as the subdirectory is generated > move entire games to the newly-created directory.
After moving games, it looks like this:
- D:>Games >steamapps >common >Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag
- D: >Games >steamapps >common > Arma 2 Operation Arrowhead
Next, from the desktop, start the Steam app
And click on Steam then Settings and click the Downloads tab

And under Content Libraries section then choose Steam Library Folder

Then click on Add Library Folder and move to the location where the games are moved in D:/games/your_subdirectory.

Now click on Select and then Close for saving the library folder.
Lastly, exit Steam and restart it.

And now Steam scans the newly selected Library folder > display entire games as installed.

You May Also Read: [SOLVED] Fix Steam Download Stopping Problem?

#3: Manually Add Steam Library Folder

In the installation disk in the Steamapps folder steam stores the game data by default. But if you had a custom location to store game data then try adding the location in the Steam app to fix the Steam doesn’t recognize installed games.

Here follow the steps to do so:

First, launch and click on Steam and choose Settings

And click on the Downloads tab and click on Steam Library Folders.

Next, in the pop-up window then click on Add Library Folder and choose the location where entire the Steam game data is saved.

Click on Select and close the Steam settings.

And exit the Steam app and restart Steam

I hope now, that Steam starts detecting the installed games again and shows the games in the folder.

#4. Utilize .acf Cache to Force Steam to Recognize Games

After taking the Steamapps folder backup with entire game data, utilize the Steam cache files to force recognize steam games from the game data.

Follow the steps to do it:

Verify you have reinstalled Steam or have an existing installation.
Now move game data to C: > Program Files (x86) > Steam > Steamapps folder.
And launch Steam > now steam might display some games that are installed correctly.
But for the games that do not show as installed choose and click on the Install button
And steam starts detecting entire existing files.
But if still, Steam won’t recognize existing files it starts downloading the files and progress read 0%.
Now pause updating for games and exit Steam
Next go to C: > Program Files (x86) > Steam >Steamapps > locate entire current .acf files.

And copy entire .acf files, and move them to a new folder > outside the Steamapps folder.
Again relaunch Steam and in the Games library, affected games appears as uninstalled.
Exit Steam.
Now move entire .acf files back into C: > Program Files (x86) > Steam > Steamapps folder.

Lastly, restart Steam go to the Game library click Resume Updating the games you paused before.

Well, if everything works well then the entire games you installed earlier will appear as installed. So if any update is needed then update it.

#5: Check the Game’s integrity through Steam

This may work to fix steam doesn’t recognize installed games. Try verifying the integrity of the game cache of your operating system.

Follow the step given:

From the library section, and load Steam right click on the game from the menu choose Properties
Now choose the Local files tab and click Verify integrity of game cache button

And steam starts verifying the game’s files.
This may take several minutes, wait for the whole process to complete.

And restart your steam, hope this fixes the steam not detecting the issue of the installed game.

#6: Use Steam’s own Backup and Restore Function

You can use steam’s own backup and restore function to copy the game between the PCs to resolve the problem.

Here you need 65GB of free space on the home computer and 65GB somewhere else like a USB drive, or a portable hard drive or a USB key. Or else you can a folder on the main system and share it over the network.

Follow the steps to perform the backup and restore:

In your library and right click on the game then choose Backup Game Files.
And to do the restore choose Backup and Restore Games from the Steam menu at the top left
Now make to delete the game files you have copied to the home computer.

It is estimated now the Steam game is installed but not detected problem is resolved.

FAQ Related to Steam not Recognizing Installed Game

1: Installed Games are Appearing as Uninstalled on Steam

The games might appear uninstalled in the situation when Steam is unable to recognize the installation files. So check the affected game’s folder is in the proper location then try launching the game you will see a prompt download and you will during the download process, steam starts recognizing the installation files.

2. How To Make Steam Recognize Installed Games?

Click on Steam and then click on Settings and go to the Downloads tab.
Now hit the Steam library folder and add the D:\Games folder and then restart Steam
Steam will be able to locate the installed games again.

3. How to get Steam to recognize an existing game on a different drive?

If in case you have installed the games previously to the external location outside the Steam folder, then try the steps given:

Start Steam and then click on Settings now go to the Downloads
Click the Steam Library Folders button and a window appears with the entire current steam Library folders.
And at the top of the window click on the “+” button and choose the folder with installed games.
As you have added the latest Library folder the installed games will appear in Steam Library.

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Conclusion:

Hope the solutions given work for you to fix the Steam not Detecting Installed Games issues.

Well, this is a common problem that many users are struggling but it can be fixed after following the solutions given.

So, try the solutions given one by one to make the steam recognize the installed games. Hope the article helps you to solve your problem.

However, if you have any queries, or suggestions, regarding the ones presented then fee-free to share them with us on our Facebook Page. Also, don’t forget to shoot the like button.

Good Luck..!

Hardeep has always been a Windows lover ever since she got her hands on her first Windows XP PC. She has always been enthusiastic about technological stuff, especially Artificial Intelligence (AI) computing. Before joining PC Error Fix, she worked as a freelancer and worked on numerous technical projects.